Democrats Reject Platform Proposal Opposing Trade Deal

[OrwellwasRight]

135. Your argument fails to factor in

the fact that the TPP increases corporate influence and gives more than 9000 new companies the right to sue us over public interest laws and rules in private tribunals. Giving away democracy in exchange for "low prices" is a bad deal.

And Wal-Mart has a bad reputation because it is a bad actor, not because it is big. Its business model thrives on the existence of taxpayer funded programs like food stamps (SNAP), welfare (TANF), and EITC. We are subsidizing Wal-Mart's low wages, low benefits, and no guaranteed hour employees. Its existence drives out competition, creating an oligopspny in the labor market, driving wages down. I met a guy (Joe Allen, Jr.) who used to own several unionized clothing factories in Texas. He produced for Wal-Mart until they told him he had to bust his unions so that he could get his prices down to the China price. He shut down instead of paying poverty wages. Wal-Mart is a bad actor, period.

It's nice that you like your employer and your job, but I would caution against making Wal-Mart a hero. I used to work for Safeway. I got 100% healthcare coverage with no premiums. Triple time on holidays. Vacation pay. Paid sick days. Paid maternity leave. Safeway no longer offers all that because it is competing with Wal-Mart's low road model. Instead of simply defending the status quo, we need to fight back. Human dignity demands more.

You might also be interested in this: http://features.marketplace.org/priceofprofits/

We need to fight the current model of globalization, not further strengthen it.